Hi all. After 30 years of driving only SUVs or trucks, it's time for a car again. Our old subaru is going to the teen. Been ignoring cars for years, now I'm like Holy Cow, cars are cheaper and get way better MPG! "Commuter" is maybe the wrong word. I mostly ride the bike so it's my "daily" car that will sometimes get me t work. I want to keep it cheapish (under $20k new) since I ride the motorbike most of the time. Has to be a competent commuter, easy to park, good mpg, cheap to insure. I want it to be fun to drive and reliable for 10+ years. My list has 3 so far. A. Subaru Crosstrek. The sensible choice. AWD, hatchback, great MPG. I'd opt for the 6mt? I love hatchbacks. I'm thinking it's kind of a dull ride though. We have a Wrangler (wife's) so I'm not sure AWD is necessary. B. Civic Hatch Sport (6mt) or Si. Cheap, fun, dead reliable. I love hatchbacks but the Si looks more fun. Suppose I could get over it but I'm not sure. C. Golf GTI. Did I mention I love hatchbacks? Looks kind of dull and I'm concerned about reliability down the road. I think the base model is the only once in my price range. Any other ideas?
Since I only have bikes when I need to drive I drive my friend's cars, sometimes often, and for some period of time and distances. The VW TDI Sport wagon buyback was replaced with an Crosstrek. He hated it within a few weeks and after awhile I agree. Jiggle-crap ride. These days there's no excuse for that. Gutless and uninspiring as all get out. He gave it to his wife since she's doesn't care and replaced it with a Lexus IS250...pretty nice, but no hatch-back. If you like a car with some feel and feedback the GTI sounds likes the right direction.
If you’re after 10+ years reliability go for the civic eyes closed. If it has half the reliability of mine it will be a joy, the hatch giving it a more practical aspect. It’s been a revelation for me after two mazdas, a subaru and a volks. You just won’t see your mechanic for anything other than regular maintenance. Mine is a 2008 with 120k miles on it, the only thing that got changed aside from brakes, sparkplugs (preventive), tires and filters were the sway bar links and rear shocks at 110 and 115k miles. Driven through canadian winters on potholed roads and washboard dirt roads often at or over maximum payload when traveling. Last year I told my mechanic that I wanted to put 1000$ in preventive maintenance on items he juged would extend it’s life or improve driving, he basically just changed the plugs and bled the brakes. Before owning it I wouldn’t believe that a car could be so reliable. I get between 650 and 450 km on a 40l fill depending on the deason and city vs highway driving. Max payload: (Full trunk, full roof box, 3 people, 200lbs worth of bikes and racks)
I am going to help out here and prioritize your list for you. Keep in mind this that this list has been scientifically arrived at factoring in a multitude of datum such as reliability, initial purchase cost, re-sale value, cost of ownership, reliability and ownership satisfaction. A. Civic B. Civic C. Civic You choose the model.
Only one of the cars on your list will meet your requirements. It begins with a 'C' and ends with 'ivic'.
Having lived in Seattle I think you're kind of insane for wanting a manual trans commuter, but when I lived there I drove a 5 speed YJ so I guess I shouldn't criticize. I replaced the 6mt TDI VW bought back under the emission recall with a 3 yr lease return CPO Chevy Volt. Now before you laugh I'll tell you I thought it would be a snooze fest too, but they have horrible resale value because much of the public thinks its an electric car with a 38 mile range. They don't understand it has an engine. That works out great for the second owner. So I decided to check it out. Now one year, four months and 36,000 miles later I am amazed at how much I have enjoyed this car. I spend 2.5 - 3 hours per day commuting in it. The economy is off the charts and while it isn't a sports car, I have no complaints about power delivery. The precondition feature that pre-warms the car on your house electricity is great, the hands free bluetooth integration is good and the car is surprisingly comfortable. It has also been reliable as a stone, and even in my case spending 2/3 of it's miles on the gas engine I could run 25,000 miles between oil changes before the oil life system said an oil change was required. I paid $13,100 for it three years and 36,900 miles old, with a warranty to 100,000 miles (that I haven't needed). If it was stolen tomorrow I'd probably buy another one.
Commuter car, hey? That means, utility and durability. High resale value. You might want to consider used. Honda or Toy Yoda; perhaps Kia or Hyundai. Subarus today are kewel. Which means there's a herd-demand for them. Which means they're not going to deal on prices, new; and used ones will be overpriced to the value they offer. I would stay away from VW products...it's the reichewolksvagenwerks now - the Rich People's Car Company. Engineered to drive well - but not so much to hold up. And support, in terms of proprietary parts and service, will, in the end, cost more than a eight-ten-year-old rig will be worth. Which is why newer VWs and Audis and Three-Pointed-Star scheissewagens wind up in the scrapyard. Commuter car. Appliance. It can be, should be, reliable and reasonably pleasant to drive; but you want to remember, it's in hard service; likely to be damaged; exposed to risk of theft.
^ ^ ^ Lots of good points. My car was rear ended a little over a year ago. Three days after that accident a lady merged into the right side of the car. In my case I'm not concerned about resale value because of the (comparatively) cheap purchase price. I intend to run it at least 200,000 miles, at which point no commuter car is going to be worth a ton of money.
The Civic is a great choice if it fits you. They are kinda short in side. I would also look at the Honda Fit. We have one and it had been a great car. I am sort tall. If you are shorter the Civic is a good pick.
Thanks, I think "commuter car" is the wrong choice of words. I don't commute by car very often but sometimes I have to. Enough to put up with MT I guess, maybe. Not sure til I try it. I agree a manual in Seattle makes no sense as a full-time commuter. I should call it the car I drive when I'm not on two wheels. If I were a "car guy" I'd probably lease a sporty BMW and not own a motorbike and several bicycles. I'd rather sink money into my motorcycle and take it on long trips. Hope I'm explaining it right but I suspect this type of audience will get it. I think cars will all be electric and self-driving in 15 years, may as well shift while I can.
That's a different application. "Commuter car" indicates you're going to spend your days crawling down I-5 or across 520 (what a freakin' nightmare that was). If it's going to be your car for things the motorcycle can't do, what are your needs? Do you need to carry stuff? Just want something fun to drive? Do you ever need to tow anything, such as a utility trailer?
My neighbor had a Civic 5mt gas. Not a bad little car, and it got such good fuel mileage he chose not to spring for the hybrid model. (abput 37 mpg). However, the newer models are not quite as reliable as Civics of the 80s and 90s. They are about as reliable as a Subaru. The base Civic is $20K. You mentioned fun being a factor, and AWD not being a huge priority. For that reason, I recommend to have a look at the Subaru BRZ. Although not yet available as a turbo, everyone says they are a blast to drive, exhibiting pure sports car manners. They are available with 6mt, and the 2018 even has optional STi suspension I think (might be an expensive option). Along those same line, the Mazda Miata MX-5 is another good one. 2007 they got more legroom, and I think they still have retractable hard top as an option. If you're looking for a tool for commuting, the German options will probably become high maintenance. Some say the TDI was reliable, but do they even still sell those here after the emissions lawsuit thing? Their gas 4 cylinders are not particularly reliable.
Toyota Corolla is the only choice. 40 mpg highway. Comfortable Good crash protection A ton of safety features. Not too hard to look at. My sister bought an LE this October for $17,900 on the street--Taxes,tags,etc.
We have a '17 6mt civic sport and a '17 6mt GTI. The GTI is mine and the sport is the wife's. Both have seen track days. The GTI is more power, brakes and sharper handling. Civic has more hatch space. I'm 6'3" and i feel more comfy in the GTI but the civic isn't bad at all. Both are awesome but I feel the GTI is a bit more upscale. Both will get close to 40mpg when nursed on the hwy. The civic is a bit more efficient and polished transmission and engine wise while the GTI feels a bit more raw in those regards. We haggled and waited for deals and got the civic for under $20k and the GTI for around $23k. The GTI replaced my Ram 1500 so it'll be the motorcycle and kayak hauler during summer months. I don't think you could go wrong with either.
If you are considering a GTi, then I would also recommend a Ford Focus ST. I recently bought one after considering the GTi. The VW may be more refined, but the ST is absolutely fun to drive every time I get in it. They only come with a 6MT, and the Recaro seats enhance the sportiness. Gas mileage is not as good as a Corolla, but the trade off is worth it to me.
Honda. Because............."Commuter" is maybe the wrong word. I mostly ride the bike so it's my "daily" car that will sometimes get me t work. I want to keep it cheapish (under $20k new) since I ride the motorbike most of the time. Has to be a competent commuter, easy to park, good mpg, cheap to insure. I want it to be fun to drive and reliable for 10+ years.
A unicorn car. You can have cheap. You can have good gas mileage. You can have cheap to insure. You can have fun-to-drive. And you can have reliable for ten years or 250,000 miles. Now you have to pick. WHICH.
